Deborah's POV
As I slowly regained consciousness, still feeling weak as if I'd fought a battle lasting days, I opened my eyes and blinked to clear my vision.
To my surprise, I realized I was lying in Matthew's arms.
With a start, I pulled back, scrambling away from him until I bumped into Mike beside me.
"You're awake, Debbie!" Mike exclaimed, his face lighting up with pure relief as he wrapped his arms around me. "You really scared me."
I frowned slightly, gently correcting him, "Not Debbie, please call me Deborah…"
Matthew's expression darkened, and he muttered with clear irritation, "Why are you pulling away? I'm not a mutated creature."
A tense silence filled the air, thick with an awkward unease.
Sensing the discomfort, Jac quickly stepped in. "Guess we haven't had a proper introduction yet. Hi, Deborah, I'm Jac. We've met before, though you probably don't remember me."
I forced a small smile. "Hi, Jac."
John, standing nearby, gave a curt nod, his face hinting at mild disapproval. "John."
"Hi, John," I replied politely.
"I'm Alex," came a warm, friendly voice from the side, his eyes kind.
"Hello, Alex."
At the back, Jim was grinning brightly, practically beaming like a child. "Hey, Deborah! I'm Jim! Do you remember me? I was right beside you during the battle with those mutated toads!"
I racked my brain, trying to recall, but in the chaos of that fight, I'd hardly paid attention to anyone except Matthew.
Still, I nodded politely. "Yes, I remember."
Jim's face lit up even more, clapping his hands with excitement. "Haha! You actually remember me!" Then he turned to Mike with a questioning look. "And this guy here? He is been pretty tight-lipped the whole time and hasn't even told us his name."
I glanced at Mike, and our eyes met for a brief moment. With a silent understanding, I was prompted, "Go ahead, introduce yourself."
With a shy smile, he straightened up a bit, his voice respectful and calm. "My name is Mike Wellspring, from Falias. I grew up in Tirnanog and later worked in the Falshi Quarry. On my eighteenth birthday, I decided to sneak up to the surface just for a look, and by the time I got to the FDB checkpoint, Falias was already trembling, with magma spewing everywhere."
Hearing Mike's mention of Falias surprised everyone—it sounded just like another version of Murias, only with a different name.
Mike continued, "In the chaos, I managed to escape to the surface, but I was out of food and strength, lying helpless in the sand. That's when Debbie found me and saved me."
I sighed softly and corrected him again, "Not Debbie, please call me Deborah…"
He smiled faintly, his tone unshakable. "She's my savior. I'll follow her for the rest of my life."
Matthew scoffed coldly, a touch of mockery in his voice. "This little wolf pup sure listens to you."
An awkward silence settled over us, stretching uncomfortably, as if the weight of unspoken words hung heavily in the air.
Suddenly, Mike leaned closer, closing the distance between us until his face was mere inches from mine.
His movement was innocent, filled with youthful curiosity and a sense of trust that felt endearing and familiar.
His gaze held mine, warm and open, as if I were his sole source of security amid the chaos.
But as I turned my head, I noticed Matthew watching us, his eyes darkening, his expression hardening with each passing second. His jaw clenched, muscles taut beneath his skin, and his brow furrowed deeply, casting shadows across his face.
His mouth pressed into a thin line, barely concealing the fire of jealousy simmering just below the surface.
Matthew didn't speak, but his expression conveyed everything he didn't say.
Anger flickered in his gaze, a fierce protectiveness that sharpened his usually calm demeanor into something almost unrecognizable.
Even in silence, he radiated a possessive intensity that filled the space between us, crackling with a warning.
"Debbie," Mike broke the silence, looking directly at me with open curiosity. "Who exactly is this Matthew? He said you're his Luna and that he's your Alpha. Are you two… lovers? Is that it?"
"Not Debbie, please call me Deborah…" I replied quietly, hesitating. "No…He's… maybe, you could say, my ex."
"Maybe?" Mike repeated, confused.
Matthew cut in coldly, "We didn't break up."
I didn't respond.
A wave of complicated emotions rose within me.
The conversation felt both awkward and strange, as though we were trapped in the shadows of the past, unable to move forward.
There was once a time when Matthew had distanced himself from me, cold and unfeeling, after my actions had led to his mother's death.
Everyone told me it wasn't my fault, but deep down, I always felt guilt.
I'd been the one to send away his only family, the last person he had.
Even though I knew it was for a greater cause, I couldn't deny that I had hurt him.
Now, I had no idea how to face him, a tangle of unresolved emotions gnawing at my heart.
It felt as though our connection was clouded by the weight of what lay behind us, vague and unfathomable.
We had only been apart for a little over a month, yet it felt distant and foreign, as if everything had changed.
"So, just an ex, huh? Doesn't sound so impressive," Mike muttered under his breath, shooting Matthew a defiant look, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.
His expression seemed almost challenging.
"Debbie," Mike continued, his tone shifting to one of eager curiosity, "what other spells can you cast? Will you teach me?"
"Not Debbie, please call me Deborah…" I forced a small smile, explaining, "Only those with the bloodline of a magical family can use magic."
"Then can you at least show me some magic?" Mike pleaded, his eyes shining with childlike wonder.
Matthew's expression darkened, his voice laced with impatience and a hint of restrained anger. "Using magic drains her energy quickly. Can't you see she's barely recovered and still weak?"
Startled, Mike leaned closer to me, gripping my arm as he asked anxiously, "Is that true, Debbie?"
"Call her Deborah! And keep your wolf paws off her." Matthew's tone turned icy, carrying a warning.
Mike snorted in defiance, muttering, "Oh, so yours aren't wolf paws?"
Watching the two young werewolves bickering, I couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
It was clear Matthew was jealous, while Mike was eager to win my favor, completely disregarding Matthew's emotions.
Stuck between them, I felt equally embarrassed and exasperated.
Mike then turned away, mumbling to himself, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. "I wonder if the transformation will be painful and exhausting…"
His anxious expression betrayed his apprehension about the upcoming full moon, especially after witnessing the raw power Matthew and the others displayed in their transformations.
"If you have any questions about shifting, you can ask them," I encouraged.
Jim, ever cheerful, chimed in reassuringly, "The first time is rough, but you'll get through it. Each time gets easier, and you'll get used to it."
Mike sidled up to Jim with a mischievous glint in his eye, whispering, "Can I ask something… private?"
Jim chuckled, nodding enthusiastically. "Haha… Bro… Ask away! No secrets here."
Lowering his voice, Mike's face lit with a hint of mischief. "What do you do when your pants are torn after shifting back?"
The werewolves around us burst into laughter, while Matthew simply scowled, replying impatiently, "Is it that hard to carry a spare pair? Just change into new ones."
Mike gave a thoughtful nod, seemingly satisfied with the answer, then turned to me with a playful grin. "So, Debbie, you'll make sure to cover me up, right? I don't want anyone seeing me."
I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head slightly at his innocence. "Deborah… Not Debbie… And don't worry; there's no one else out here. I promise not to look."
Mike pouted slightly, looking a bit disappointed as he muttered, "Isn't there any kind of stretchy pants, like gym leggings, that could work in both ways?"
At his suggestion, the others burst out laughing again. Alex, through fits of laughter, said, "I can't imagine a giant wolf running through the desert in tight gym leggings."
Their laughter became infectious, and I found myself joining in, my own laughter rising alongside theirs.
Just then, I caught Matthew gazing at me, his eyes filled with an intense yet almost vulnerable look, as though he was on the verge of speaking words held tightly within his heart.
For a moment, it felt as if the whole desert had stilled around us, his unspoken words resonating louder than anything he could have said.
His gaze met mine, unwavering, and I felt it pierce through every defense I had meticulously built.
A warmth unfurled within me, both startling and tender, spreading in quiet ripples as I looked away, trying to calm the unexpected rush of feelings he had stirred.